Apply for the ECOWAS Research Grant Program 2015

The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) is calling for proposals for its Research Grant Program, under the ECOWAS initiative on Youth Leadership Development in Energy. 
The Program aims to support teams of young men and women to conduct and develop well-researched, policy relevant academic papers designed to contribute to the transformation of the energy sector in the ECOWAS region.


Research proposals must be ambitious and innovative, and aimed at generating new knowledge for decision making. Proposals must demonstrate how and why the results from the research would be of relevance to policy makers and the direct beneficiaries of the study and proposed policy measures.
Through the program, a team, consisting of at least two people1, will receive a grant amount of not more than 1500 EUR to contribute to the formulation of evidence-based energy policies in the region.
The Program will, thus, support research teams with research proposals that are ambitious and innovative, and aimed at generating new knowledge for decision making.

Eligibility
The Research Grant Program will support research proposals that aim at employing scientific methodologies4 in finding solutions to topical energy issues in ECOWAS Member States. Research proposals employing a multidisciplinary approach will be favoured.

a) To be eligible:

• Research teams must comprise of young West African researchers of not more than 35 years of age. Participants should at least be students in an institution of higher education (in the region or outside the region).
• Research teams with a Master or PhD degree holder, or equivalent, will be given priority.
• Membership to the Network of Young Energy Researchers is required for team members after selection of their proposal

Eligible costs
The maximum grant allocated to each research proposal is one thousand, five hundred euro (1,500 EUR).

The grant will cover costs related to:

• Fieldwork, travel
• Communication/documentation
• Minor Equipment
• Software
• Office supplies, copying/printing
• Support (research assistants/respondents)
  Payments will be made in three instalments:
• 50% upon signing of contract;
• 25% after final submission and acceptance of manuscript6
• 25% upon acceptance of the research paper for publication by Editorial team

If the paper is accepted for publication, Research Advisors will be paid a sum of 500 EUR, separate from the research budget.

The research papers will be published electronically on the ECOWAS Energy Journal and made available on the ECREEE e-library. Manuscripts should range from 4,500-10,000 words. Papers of up to 10,000 words should have abridged versions of not more than 4,500 words. The word count does not include the abstract, figures, tables, appendices, footnotes, acknowledgements, and references.

Selection Criteria
The proposals will be evaluated based on the:

1) scientific quality of the proposed research
2) policy relevance
3) competency level of the research team
4) gender balance of the team

For Scientific quality, proposals will be judged on:

a) Strength of the hypothesis, theories and/or research questions
b) Appropriateness of the methodology and research design
c) Applicability of the research and its impact.
d) Originality and innovation
e) Multidisciplinary approach

Submission of Application
The following should be sent along with the research proposal:

• A cover letter;
• A supporting letter from an organisation (public or private) interested in the research and that may use the results of research;
• A letter from the Advisor committed to supervise the research;
• Detailed curriculum vitae of each member of the team (including the Advisor).
• The duration of the study (including submission of the final manuscript) should not exceed 12 months.
• The submissions opens at 09h00 Cabo Verde Standard Time (GMT – 1) on the 1st of October 2015 and closes on 30th of November 2015 at 09h00 Cabo Verde Standard Time (GMT -1).
• Applications should be submitted electronically to researchgrant@ecreee.org by 30th of November, 2015.

For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Call for Proposals : 2015 ECOWAS Research Grant Program

Application Deadline: November 30th 2015